RTD and Denver Transit Partners host high school students interested in electric vehicle transportation careers

On June 15, a group of 20 Denver Public Schools students visited RTD’s Elati, Mariposa, and Union Station facilities as part of an immersive summer career program that introduces students to careers in electric vehicle technology.

Developed through a partnership with Women Who Charge, a Denver-based nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for electric vehicle adoption, the EV Academy students were given a tour of the maintenance, repair, and operational training center at RTD’s light rail facility at Elati by RTD Rail Training (O&M) Manager Venessa Stone, who also coordinated a tour of the light rail control and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems at the agency’s Mariposa location.

The students then traveled by light rail to Union Station and walked through the underground bus concourse to the commuter rail platform. There, they met with DTP Project Director and CEO Nate Morgan, who answered their questions about careers in commuter rail mechanics and encouraged them to pursue careers in EV technology and rail.

The three-week EV Academy, which is in its second year, provides students with the ability to learn directly from industry professionals about electric vehicle technology around Denver, and features tours of RTD, Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), and Denver International Airport facilities.